Mets Rookies: Greg Goossen / Bart Shirley

There were two Mets Rookies cards in 1967. This is the one (#287) whose value is under $750.

Greg Goossen played 8 seasons in the minor leagues (1964-1971), and saw limited action with a major-league team in the "middle six" of those seasons. He was originally signed by the Dodgers in 1964. Prior to the 1965 season, the Mets drafted him out of the Dodgers' organization. He remained a Mets prospect for several years. Although he started out as a catcher, during 1967 he switched to first base, only catching 1 game after the 1967 season.

After appearing briefly with the Mets from 1965-1968, Goossen was traded to the Seattle Pilots before the 1969 season for a player to be named later (outfielder Jim Gosger). Greg was used as a pinch-hitter and backup first baseman for the Pilots in 1969 and the Brewers in 1970, until he was sold to the Senators in mid-1970.

Following the 1970 season, the Senators traded Goossen and two other minor-league players to the Phillies for the rights to outfielder Curt Flood (who sat out the 1970 season, rather than play for Philadelphia). Goossen wrapped up his career in 1971, playing for the Phillies' triple-A team in Eugene, Oregon.



Like Goossen, Bart Shirley also started out in the Dodgers' organization. He began in 1961 at double-A, and played the next 9 seasons with the Dodgers' triple-A team.

He was drafted by the Mets after the 1966 season, but was sent back to the Dodgers in mid-May 1967, after only 6 appearances with the Mets. Shirley played briefly as a backup infielder with the Dodgers in 1964, 1966, and 1968.